Forums >Running 101>What are "Junk" miles?
Me and my gang in Breck
Thanks so much for the discussion. Being so new to the sport it can feel absolutely overwhelming with all of the information available, most of which is contradictory in nature. I'm trying to learn how to get faster, add distance, more days and lose weight all at the same time and I just get lost sometimes attempting to keep it all straight. I've been on RA now for a few months and have come to appreciate the knowledge that many runners on here have and the groups' collective experience makes learning about running a much more maneagable endevour for me. Please don't stop the discussion on my account, and thanks for putting so much thought into the responses. I just hope that I'll be able to add to the conversation in a meaninful way some day soon!!!!
That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Neitzsche "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." "Dedication and commitment are what transfer dreams into reality."
http://home.hia.no/~stephens/torart.htm Zoomers will especially like it, since it's about Vikings and stuff.
E.J.Greater Lowell Road RunnersCry havoc and let slip the dawgs of war!May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your SPF30, may the rains fall soft upon your sweat-wicking hat, and until you hit the finish line may The Flying Spaghetti Monster hold you in the hollow of His Noodly Appendage.
I'll say this, in an attempt to continue the conversation, the most difficult thing to figure out is how hard to run on a given day. Because of this most people, in my experience, after a beginning in which they struggle with learning how to run easily, settle into a habit of just running easy miles. Keeping that struggle alive--the struggle of the beginner experimenting with paces and pushing and all that stuff--is a crucial aspect of making progress. I think that the folks who coined the term "junk miles" were on to the fact that just running easy won't maximize anyone's potential. I think more runners make the mistake of running too slow most of the time than the other way around. But in fact, this argument runs against the terminology of "junk."
Runners run
Has been
I'm starting to believe that for some average joes (like me) the idea of keeping some hard days all year round allows for more progress and less injury risk than having periods of all easy running.
"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, 'In this world, Elwood, you must be' - she always called me Elwood - 'In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant."
#2867
Here's a good article on recovery runs. I agree with about 95% of it. I still have a hard time believing that recovery runs don't aid in recovery in some way since I always feel much, much better after a recovery run than before one.
Run to Win25 Marathons, 17 Ultras, 16 States (Full List)
I don't know if 2500 miles/yr and a 17:00 5k PR makes you an "average joe" per se. If that's true, I am WAY below average!
When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
Yeah it depends on which end of the telescope you look through. From my perspective, I'm Average Joe and mikeymike is at the bottom end of the elite spectrum.
Prophet!
you may have to add more "junk" to your training.
Barefoot and happy
We all on this thread have about the same chance of making the Olympic 5000m final and none of us on this thread makes a living at running or places it as the top priority in their lives.
What about an Olympic marathon trial?